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Monday, December 30, 2024

Court Backs DRIC (downriver Windsor-Detroit bridge) Bridge

The Ontario Court of Appeals has dismissed a bid by the Ambassador Bridge to overturn the environmental assessment for a new downriver Windsor-Detroit bridge.

According to the Windsor Star, the private bridge company which owns the rival Ambassador Bridge was appealing a lower court ruling that upheld the environmental assessment clearing the project to build the new bridge in Canada.

The bridge company could appeal to the Supreme Court, but it would have to agree to hear the case.

“The government of Canada is pleased with the court’s decision, which confirms that the federal environmental assessment for the DRIC bridge was properly done,” said Mark Butler, spokesman for Transport Canada.

The bridge project has been slowed by legislative hurdles in Michigan. Gov. Rick Snyder continues to support the bridge project, which was narrowly voted down by the state Senate committee in Lansing last year.

Canada has offered up to $550 million to pay for the state’s share of the project and Washington has also agreed to count those funds under a federal infrastructure program that could provide Michigan with more than $2 billion for other road projects.